Safety belt



March 14, 1944. A. D. DE SHANO 2,344,031

SAFETY BE-LT Filed Jan. 15, 1943 v Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY BELT Alphonse D. De Shano, Bay City, Mich. Application January 15, 1943, Serial No. 472,537

5 Claims.

This invention relates to safety saddle belts for use by linemen, structural workers, tree trimmers, and others engaged in work of a similar nature whereby the workman is suspended or held by a supporting rope secured or anchored to a tree or other substantial support.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a safety belt which normally supports the wearer in a sitting or braced position comfortably and without undue strain, and which permits the wearer to safely and comfortably lean back, or to either side and with free use of arms and legs and without binding or cramping.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which can be very quickly and easily attached or detached from the wearer, and in which one leg loop is automatically opened when one of the snap hooks is unhooked for open? ing the belt.

A still further object is to provide a safety belt of substantial construction and in which the leg loops are retained at uniform size, so that there can be no binding of th legs of the wearer, or retarding of the circulation when supported therein.

A further object still is to provide a safety belt of the character described, and. provide means for adjusting said belt so that it may be fitted to persons of various sizes and weights.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following specification, to the accompanying drawing, and also to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front, perspective view of a safety belt embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same belt with means for adjusting the size to suit the wearer.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view illustrating the adjusting means, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top edge thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 8 indicates the main supporting ring of the device to which one end of a supporting rope (not shown) is attached. In the form shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the waist band 8 of the belt is provided with snap hooks Hi and II respectively, which are adapted to be releasably snapped to the ring 8 in the usual manner. This belt can be made of any desired material, but I prefer to construct it of a good grade of leather, and line it with a canvas or felt strip [2 to the end that it will be more comfortable to the wearer, and so that it also reinforces the belt proper.

The end sections I3 of th belt 9 are threaded through the eyes M of the snap hooks I0 and H and these end sections are then folded back on the main body and secured to the waist band by means of rivets l 5, or it can be sewed, stapled, or otherwise secured if desired, the ends leading downwardly and forming part of the leg loops i6 and H as will be further described.

These leg loops l6 and I l are formed in an identically similar manner, one end of a strip 1 8 being attached to one end of the section l3 by means of rivets l9, thence leading down and thence up and through the supporting ring 3 to form the leg loop [6, thence the strip leads downwardly, and thence being attached to the opposite end section [3 in the same manner, thus forming the opposite leg loop I], the folds of the strip 58 being riveted together at the point 20 directly below the ring 8 so that loops will remain uniform and eliminate the possibility of binding or retarding of circulation in the legs of the wearer.

The snap hooks l0 and II are of the quickly detachable type which can be quickly and easily snapped into the ring 8 or unsnapped therefrom, and it will be noted that when the belt is in position on the wearer, that either or both of these snap hooks can be manipulated to release the waist band of the belt, which then falls from the wearer, because as the waist band is released, the leg loop H5 or I! (depending on which hook is released) is also opened. The belt is equally convenient to put on. The wearer merely places the left leg through the loop l1, pulls the belt up so that the waist band is in proper position, and then snaps the hook ID to the ring 8, and this closes both the waist band and leg loop l6 accordingly.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawing, I have shown a slightly different construction. This provides for adjustment of the size of the waist band. In such construction the waist strip 9 leads through the eye of a rectangular-shaped ring 2| and is thence folded back on the main body of the belt and sewed or riveted thereto, thence being looped down to form an attaching strip for the leg loops l6 and I 1 herein before described. An adjusting strap 22 is secured to the body of the waist belt at 23, thence leading through the ring 2|, and thence through the eye in other vehicles forced to travel over rough, un-

even ground.

From the foregoing description, it will be ob- H l vious that I have perfected a very substantial,

convenient, and comfortable safety belt, which can be quickly and easily attached or detached and which is economical to manufacture and assemble.

What I claim is:

1 Ina safety saddle belt, the combination of a rigid supporting ring for the attachment of a supporting rope, a flexible waist band, snap hooks secured on said waist band with the end sections of the material leading through the snap hook eyes and folded back on the main belt body and secured thereto, another strip threaded through the supporting ring with the ends leading down and thence upwardly andsecured to the ends of the main belt at a point spaced circumferentially from the hooks to form leg loops 'with the overlapping sections. of said strip secured together at a point directly below the center ring to prevent slippage and maintain the loop sections 7 against contraction.

2.'In a safety belt, the combination of a center ring for the attachment of a'supporting rope, a flexible waist band section, snap hooks secured on'said waist band section for releasable conmotion to said center ring, the end sections of said waist band section being threaded through the snap hook eyes and folded back on the belt and secured thereto and. terminating in depending end strips spaced circumferentially from said hooks, and a center strip looped through the supporting ring with the ends secured to the depending end strips to form leg loops, the overlapping sections of'said strip being secured together at a point directly below the center ring to eliminate slippage and maintain the size of the leg supports.

3. In a safety saddle belt, the combination of a rigid center ring for attachment of a supporting rope, of a waist belt, the ends of which are arranged in an identically similar manner, snap hooks attached to the belt at points spaced from the ends thereof, with the free ends leading downwardly, a leg strap looped through the center ring with the ends securely attached to the free ends of the waist belt and forming identically similar leg loops, the overlapping sections of the leg strap being secured together at a point directly below the center ring so that the detaching of either snap hook from the center ring simultaneously opens the waist belt and one of the leg loops.

4. In a safety saddle belt, the combination of a center ring for the attachment of a supporting rope, of a waist belt having its ends arranged in an identically similar manner, with the end sections folded back on the main body and secured thereto at a point intermediate their length to provide downwardly depending free ends, a leg strap looped through the center ring with the ends attached to the free ends of the main belt to form leg loops, adjustable straps secured to the waist band; snap hooks provided thereon and releasably engaging the center ring, and securing means on said belt for securing the ends of said strips in adjusted position.

5. In a safety saddle belt, the combination of a center ring for the attachment of a supporting rope, of. a waist belt having its ends arranged in an identically similar manner, with the end sections of thebelt folded back on the main body and secured thereto to leave a depending free a leg strap looped through the center ring with the ends attached to said free flaps to form leg loops, with the overlapping sections secured together to maintain the leg loops of uniform size, straps secured to the main belt, snap hooks adjustable thereon and releasably engageable with the center ring, means for adjusting said straps to varythe diameter of said belt, and

means for securing the free end of the straps in adjusted position.

ALPHONSE D. DE SHANO. 

